SOCIAL

Enterprise Agreement Overwhelmingly Endorsed

With 1592 votes in favour, 68 against, the new enterprise agreement, with back pay, will come into effect soon.

Elections ACT announced the results of the ballot of all employees who will be covered by the ACT Public Sector Education and Training Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2014-2018.

There were 1592 Yes votes, 68 No votes and 5 votes were invalid. As such, the Enterprise Agreement will come into effect after it has been approved by the Fair Work Commission.

Backpay

At this time, we anticipate that the first pay at the increased rate will be in October – and back-pay of the November 1, 2014 1.5% pay rise and the May 1, 2015 pay rise will be delivered the following fortnight. The next 1.5% pay increase will be on November 1.

Salaries

The 3% per annum pay increase is a strong result which, in a low-inflation environment, means a significant increase in our real wages.

The Agreement means that whereas a beginning teacher earned $55,000 per annum in 2011, they will earn $68,000 per annum in 2018. A teacher at the top of the salary scale earned $78,000 in 2011; they will earn $101,000 in 2018.

Workload

We will now have 60 additional full-time equivalnet school assistants coming into the system to take non-teaching tasks off teachers.

What new School Assistants do exactly is a decision for each school. We strongly encourage all members, at sub-branch level, to hold discussions about what will benefit you most - and engage in a dialogue with school leadership.

Additionally, we have clear language in the Agreement about a teacher’s core role.Tasks teachers will no longer do

packing, stocktaking and moving equipment and furniture

cleaning and maintenance of facilities, furniture and equipment

procurement of resources, including ICT

photocopying

grant submissions

weekend events

weekend professional learning (unless self-directed)

Teachers (and school assistants) are no longer required to complete fortnightly absence records.

Tasks teachers will only be involved in so far as educational expertise is required

student reports

excursions and camps

school community events

student competitions

student attendance, management and welfare

communication with parents/carers

data entry

displays

use of ICT (beyond the normal trouble shooting expected of all ACTPS employees).